Swinging spout for sintering machines



June 17, 1947. M. L. COVER SWINGING SPOUT FOR SINTERING'IACHINES Filed June 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Shqet 1 the traveling-grate type This Patented June 11, 1947 2,422,470 SWINGING SPOUT FOR SINTERING MACHINES Martin L. (lover,

National Steel Delaware Allen" Park, Mich, assignor to Corporation, a corporation Application time 20,1944, Serial No. 541,251 a 16 Claims. 2

to sintering machines of. and, in particular, to a swinging spout for distributing the material to be sintered in the form of a bed on the grate.

Swinging spouts of various types have been used heretofore for deliveringgranular material to the traveling grate of Certain diificulties have arisen however, in the operation of such apparatus. While the use of a leveling or strike-oh plate is conventional in sintering machines for determining 'the level of the top of the bed, there is a. noticeable lack of uniformity in the density or degree of. compactness of the bed resulting from the non-uniform discharge of material by the swinging spout. lack of uniformity in the compactness of the bed is objectionable because it results in uneven buming of the combustion material. Some of the sinterable particles are accordingly over fired and some are not fired suficlently.

Sinteiing-machine spouts as used heretofore have usually been provided with a forwardly sloping bottom or deflector plate adapted to dis= charge the material against the leveling plate. Because of the impact of the sintering material against the deflector plate and the abrasive char acter of the materiaL'it has been necessary to replace the spouts because of the wearing out of the plate, even though the other portions of the spout have a much longer useful life. This dimculty in maintaining the spout in operative condition represents an addition to the operating cost and necessitates shutting down the machine for replacement of the spout.

Ihis invention relates here sufficiently to prevent them from scattering as dust in the air. The material fed through the spout is thus somewhat sticky and exhibits a marked tendency to collect on the-walls oi the spent and thereby impede the flow of material therethrough. Because of this condition, it is frequently necessary to stop the machine and clean out the spout manually. This increases the operating cost both because of the manual labor involved and, what is more serious, the interruption in the production of sintered material.

I have invented a novel feeding mechanism for spouts imown heretofore, and provided with means preventing the material passing a sintering machine.

I plane of line lI-H of Figure 3 is a partial front elevation of the is mounted for oscillation through the shoot from adhering. to the walls thereof. In a preferred embodiment,

wall. ,The iront and rear walls terminate short of the deflector plate and the side walls have cut-outs adjacent the deflector plate permitting dischargeof material prinhector plate and have slight longitudinal movement relative thereto, thus di'slodging material which might tend to accumulate on those sur faces.

Further novel features and advantages of the spout of my invention will become apparent during the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure l is a transverse section through a sintering machine showing the swinging spout of my invention in rear elevation; v Figure 2 is a partial section taken Figure l; and,

9110113 the spout.

Referring in detail to the drawings, palletsld are pushed along suitable guide rails (not shown):

below a charging spout H and a burner [12 before entering the in the bed of usual combustion chamber wherematerial it, deposited on the pallets burner. Angle bars it extending along above the sides of the pallets form continuations of the latter.

The spout I l comprises walls It and a rear wall ll structure which is a front wall 85, side forming an elongated transversely of the grate, as indicated in chain lines in Figure 1, being supported on pivot pins it passing through the front and rear walls and secured to the walls of a chute it. The chute extends downwardly froma hopper (not shown) or other the granular material to be sintered.

The rear wall ll, terminates short of the lower the spout deflector plate extending between the side walls and inclined downwardly from the. rear toward the front source oi I plate 32. The posts welded to the plate.

. end of t e spout. The side wallshave rearward extensions or wings 20 adjacent their lower ends. Horizontally and vertically spaced supporting bars 2| and 22 extend between the side walls upper and lower edges of the wings 2, bar 25 welded thereto adjacent its upper edge,

adapted to engage the upper edges of the bars 23 to suspend theplate in a predetermined position. The plate 24 covers the entire area between the side walls.

The lower edge of the plate 24 is substantially in line with the plane of the front wall 15 which terminates a short distance thereabove. The side walls l6 have cut-outs 26 therein adjacent the lower edges of the front wall and the deflector plate. A curtain 21 in the form of a piece of sheet metal of suitable thickness depends from supporting hooks 23 welded to the rear wall H. The curtain is welded to a supporting bar 29 which engages the hooks. A link 30 pivoted to the rear wall I1 at 3| is driven by any suitable'crank mechanism for oscillating the spout through the desired angle.

Material delivered to the spout II from the 'chute l9 falls downwardly therethrough, strikes the deflector plate 24 and is discharged through 26 toward each side of the spout,

the cut-outs and, to a variable edges of the front wallv leveling plate 32 extends between extent, between the lower 15 and the plate 24. A the angle bars l4, being inclined downwardly and contra to thedirection of travel of the pallets. The plate 32 is pivoted on arms 33 secured to a shaft 34. The shaft is journaled in bearings 35 mounted on a cross beam 36. The beam is secured to supporting posts 31 extending upwardly from the frame of the sintering machine (not shown). Side plates or wings 38 extend rearwardly from the 32. Adjusting bars 39 having toothed lower edges adapted to engage bolts 40 extending through pairs of spaced posts 4|, are pivoted to the wings 38. By means of these bars the plate 32 may be swung about the ends'of the arms 33 to give it the desired inclination. shaft 34 may be turned by any convenient means to vary the level of the lower edge, of the plate 41' are secured to a deck plate 42 carried partly on an angle between the bars l4.

The plate 32 is preferably adjusted 'so that the lower edge of the plate 24 is substantially in bar 43 extending the front wall, as

' pins provide chains 44 suspended from any convenient means such as frame members 45 at points spaced from the pivotal axis of the spout. The chains hang down inside'the spout on each side adjacent the front wall, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

As the spout swings from its center position to.

either sidepthe portions of the chains depending inside the spout swing across the inner face of indicated by chain lines in Figure 1, thereby sweeping the wall and dislodging any material which might tend to adhere thereto. In addition, the chains 44, because they are suspended from points spaced from the pivot ill, have a slight sliding movement relative to the walls of the spout as the latter swings from side to side. This further aids in preventing adherence of material'to the interior of the spout.

I also provide chains 46 which may conveniently be suspended from frame members 41. The chains 46 hang down inside the spout andoverlie the deflector plate 24, being trained around a crossbar 48 in the form-of a length of pipewelded to the wings 20 near their upper edges. The portions of the chains 46 inside the spout sweep across the deflector plate 24 in the manner already explained, as the spout oscillates. therebydislodging material tending to adhere to the plate.

It will be appreciated that'the movement of the extreme lower ends of the chains 44 and 46 I relative to the mouth or lower end of the spout contact therewith when the spout is in central or The clearance between the plate 32 obviously increases spout swings'to either side of its central position. The lower edge of the plate 24 is provided with a raised rib 24a which, in the illustrated embodiment, is in'the form of a bar The bar stiffens the lower edge of the plate, serves as a wear piece in case it comes in contact with the plate 32, and also limits the flow of sinterable material directly forward from the plate 24. When the spout is in central position the bar substantially closes the clearance between the plate 24 and the plate 32. As the spout moves the material tends to flow out through the side openings provided by the cut-outs 26. instead of directly forwardfrom the lower edge or left of the plate 24.

In order to prevent vertical position. plate 24 and the somewhat as the clogging of the spout, I

r replacing the entire substantially uniform will tend to prevent any therein. This being the most narrowly constricted portion of the spout, is the place where clogging is most likely to occur. While the chains will serve to prevent this under normal operating conditions, any clogging which may result from unusual conditions may readily be cleared by inserting a poker through the open rear side of thespout, the curtain being displaced to the extent necessary to permit poker in the mouth of the spout.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the charging spout of my invention is characterized by numerous advantages over. the spouts used heretofore for loading sinterable material onto traveling grates. The discharge of material from the spout principally from the sides thereof results in a more nearly uniform distribution of material across the width of the grate. The bed of material when struck off to its final height by the leveling plate 32 is thus thereof proceeds at substantially the same rate at all points across the width of the bed. The removability of the deflector plate 24- permits it to be replaced, when worn, 'with practically no loss of time and without necessitating a shut down of the machine. The cost of replacing the plate 24, obviously, is much less than that of v spout or even reconstructing a spout such as those used heretofore by installing a new deflector plate thereon which requires the bodily removal of the spout from the machine. The chains effectively prevent clogging of the spout even when handling very flne material such as flue dust which has to be rather wet to prevent it from flying. The curtain. 2'l prevents material from rear side of the spout, yet permits the insertion of a poker or other clogging should occur.

Because of the foregoing improvements, a sintering machine provided withthe spout of my clogging of material manipulation of the in density and combustion bounding out through the open clearing means i in. case any v v 1. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling-bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front,

side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, a deflector plate between said side walls sloping downwardly rear wall terminating above said plate, and a curtain depending from said rear wall toward said plate. 1

2. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, walls sloping downwardly toward the front wall, said rear wall terminating above said plate, said front wall terminating above said plate and said side walls having cut-outs therein adjacent the intersection of said plate with the plane ofthe front wall.

3. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, co prising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, and a deflector plate between said side walls sloping downwardly toward the front wall, said rear wall terminating above said plate, said front wall terminating above said plate, and a rib extending across the lower edge of said plate and standing out beyond the plane of the upper face thereof.

4. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, a deflector plate between said side walls sloping downwardly toward the front wall, said rear wall terminating above said plate thereby leaving an opening afiording, access to the interior of the spout.

' 5. The apparatus defined by claim 3 characterized by said rib comprising a bar welded to the deflector plate.

6. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, and a plurality of lengths of chain suspended within said spout in spaced relation, adapted to dislodge material adhering to said walls.

7. A- spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being piv-- otally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, a deflector plate between said side walls sloping downwardly toward the front wall, and a length of chain lying on said and a deflector plate between said side toward the front wall, said frame.

deflector plate and free to slide thereaoross on swinging movement of the spout.

8'. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and hering thereto. a

9. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box having side and rear walls and a fiat front wall, the front wall extending downwardly below the bottom of the rear wall, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, a supporting frame extending between ,the side walls below the lower edge of said rear ,wall and sloping downwardly toward the front wall, and a deflector plate slidable in said 10. Apparatus for delivering. granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a leveling plate extending across said bed; and a spout pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed for discharging granular material across said bed, said spout includ ing a flat front wall, a deflector plate inclined downwardly towards said front wall and terminating below said front wall adjacent said-leveling plate, and cut-outs in the sides of said spout adjacent the intersection of said plate with the plane of said front wall whereby the granular material is discharged principally from the sides of the spout at its lower end.

11. A spout for delivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotaily supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, and a flexible member suspended from a fixed point above said spout and depending thereinto, said point being so located relative to the spout that oscillation of the box eieots relative longitudinal and transverse movement between said member and said front wall, to dis lodge material adhering to said wall.

12. A spout fordelivering granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box generally rectangular in section and having front, side and rear walls, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, and a length said spout adapted to dislodge material adhering to said walls, said chain being suspended from a point spaced from the pivotal axis of spout whereby the chain on oscillation of the spout, has sliding movement therealong and transversely thereof.

13. A spout for delivering: granular material to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box having side and rear walls and a fiat front wall, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, and a deflector plate removably positioned between said side walls adjacent the lower end of the box,

said plate extending the full width of the spout of chain suspended within 1 to a traveling bed, comprising a depending box having side and rear walls and a flat front. wall, the front wall extending downwardly below the bottom of the rear wall, said box being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, cross-bars extending between said side walls, said bars being spacedapart horizontally and vertically and lying in a plane inclined downwardly toward the front wall, and a deflector plate slidable on said .bars.

15. A spout for delivering granular material to a bed, said spout comprising a box having side and rear walls and a flat front wall and being pivotally supported for swinging movement transversely above the bed, a supporting frame positioned adjacent the lower end of the spout and inclined downwardly toward said front wall, and a deflector plate removably 'carried on said frame, said front wall terminating above the lower end of said plate to form therewith a discharge o opening. I

16. Apparatus for delivering a continuous flow of granular material to a bed, comprising a de- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 1,798,130 Biedsoe Mar.,31, 193-1 437,735 Trapp Oct. 7, 1890 1,741,944 Linney Dec. 31,1929

878,847 1 Williams Feb. 11, 1908' 707,297 Brink Aug. 19, 1902 2,061,333 Skinner Nov. 17', 1936 1,088,357 Morse Feb. 24, 1914 

